What have you learned now that you wish you knew as a teenager?
Roper: If there was one thing that any teenager could do better with it's just not caring what other people think about them. Psychologists tell us that your perception of yourself comes from how you think others see you. I think it's so important to know how God sees you instead of worrying how others see you.

If you could cover a U2 song, which song would you pick?
Roper: See, I think I have moral problems with people covering U2 or the Beatles. I just don't think it should be done. I know my friend Justin McRoberts did this, and I still love him, but I don't think it should be done.

If I could [cover U2] without treading on sacred ground, I'd do "Sunday Bloody Sunday." [But] I should cut out my tongue for saying it.

If there was a Five Iron Frenzy tribute album, who would you want to play on it?
Roper: I don't know. I don't know how to answer these questions without sounding really narcissistic. I would like all kinds of no-name garage bands.

Five Iron Alum Jeff the Girl: Stryper. Steve Taylor. How about the people who made Waiting for Guffman? Parker Posey could play me. Christopher Guest could be Reese. The guy with the glasses, Eugene Levy could be Keith.

Drummer Nick White: You know who should be Reese—Fred Willard. "I've got a great idea for a band, kids—Five Iron Frenzy. It'd be hip." At the end it'd be ska, and you'd go, "Wha' happened?"

Roper: It'd be cool just to get unsigned bands, like all the craziest, nerdiest kids that come up to us at shows [and say], "I've got a band. I play the Commodore 64."

Who is the person you most admire?
Roper: Mister Rogers. ... I learned all these crazy things about him, that he went to night school to become a Presbyterian pastor ... As easy as it is to make fun of him, I can't think of anybody who carried more of God's grace with him.

I know in that show he never spoke of God often, but I don't think anyone doubted whether or not he was a Christian just because of how he was. And he didn't have to show boat it or hide behind it or make it seem flashy to try and sell it to people. He had the love of Jesus Christ in him and that's what came out—that show. So I really admire that. I wish I had half the peace that man had.

You've had a few engagements broken off in the past, so maybe you're not the best person to ask, but do you have any relationship advice?
Roper: [turns to his girlfriend] Do I have any relationship advice?

White: Never grow out a moustache. [laughter] If you can find a girl who likes you, even if you grow out a moustache—that's the girl for you.

A sort of moustache test?
Roper: She hates this moustache so bad. Oh gosh, I'm not good at this. I'm the last person you should ask for relationship advice. Take your time, how about that? If you like a girl, never go on tour.

How do you make every day seem so new?
Roper: It's easy to be excited about God when things are great. Like when new and exciting things are happening to us and we're in the midst of prosperity. It's hard to find him in the spaces in between and especially when things are going bad.

[Earlier on this tour] I was taking all kinds of allergy medication and I just felt dopey all the time I was taking so much. I remember walking across the street to this Starbucks and thinking just how lame it was that I felt like that, and here I was back on this tour and it's dreary out, and then just turning that and saying, "Okay, where are you in this, God? This kind of stinks, but I know you're here and I know you have a purpose in this."

I literally had joy in the fact that I knew it wouldn’t be that way forever. I knew there would be another day where it would be something awesome. I think there's enough surprises in the times when God does bless you that it's totally worth it.

Check out our review of Brace Yourself for the Mediocre as well as our old school interview with the dearly departed Five Iron Frenzy.